By Helen Peterson

More people suffering mild to moderate mental health conditions can be helped now that four local nurses can refer to Turanganui Primary Health Organisation’s Mental Health Service.

The four nurses are Carol Ford and Diane Williams (Turanganui PHO), Sarah Timmins (Turanga Health), and Polly Maxwell (Tairawhiti Polytechnic). 

“The idea behind this innovation is to catch those people who don’t engage in regular general practitioner visits,” said  PHO Primary Mental Health Clinical Liaison Robert Armstrong.

He said 20 percent of people in Tairawhiti had mild to moderate mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, that could be successfully handled at a primary health care level. The extension of the existing service, which began in December 2007, would now benefit more people who might have otherwise missed out.

Help offered through the service is free and includes up to four counseling sessions, extended general practitioner visits, and access to other community agencies which could offer practical help in a wide variety of areas including budget advice.

“This is certainly not an urgent or crisis service, it is solely for those people with mild to moderate conditions,” said Robert. People whose conditions fell into more serious categories would be referred on to the appropriate services.

Carol, Diane, Sarah and Polly will assess people for the service using the K10 Questionnaire (Keisler 10 Psychological Distress Scale). This tool features 10 questions regarding a person’s negative emotional state experienced during the month leading up to the assessment. 

A summary report using information gleaned from the questionnaire is then written for Robert and his Turanganui PHO colleague Helen Love who works part-time. They then refer the person onto the appropriate mental health provider.

Both have a wide experience base in the mental health field. Robert, a comprehensive nurse, specialized in mental health and in past years has worked in forensics, as well as with inpatients and people in a community-care environment. Helen is a registered psychiatric nurse.

Before making referrals to the mental health service Diane, Polly and Sarah undertook training highlighting the signs and symptoms of mild to moderate mental health issues as well as effective use of the K10 Questionnaire screening tool. Carol will soon complete her training.

“All these people are well qualified to make referrals so people can be assured it is a quality service,” said Robert.

For more information about the enhanced service contact Diane Williams or Robert Armstrong at Turanganui PHO (06) 863 2661.

By Helen Peterson

Gisborne’s Relay For Life cancer fundraiser is well on the way to being the biggest and best run in this district to date.

About 90 teams have registered for the 24-hour event which starts on Saturday including teams from Turanganui Primary Health Organisation and Turanga Health. 

Staff members have spent the past month fundraising for the relay and Turanganui PHO team organiser Tia Moeke said her 10-person contingent were hopeful of raising $1000 for the cause. Turanga Health organiser Lisa Tamatea says 19 people have registered for their team and most of the fundraising has been done on an individual basis.

“The money will directly help local cancer patients and their families by funding support services and health promotion and education programmes,” says Tia, who is thrilled local money raised is used in the district.

She has supported previous relays and says the memorial candle light service at dusk is a highlight. Tia lost her own mother, Karole Papuni, to cancer 20 years ago, so supporting the Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society is important her. 

The Relay For Life event begins on Saturday with a lap of honour to acknowledge people who have survived cancer journeys, and celebrate the determination and courage of others living with cancer. 

Tia and Lisa invite staff who have not registered for the event to come down to the Showgrounds Park and Events Centre and support relay team members!

By Helen Peterson

Inspiring Elgin resident Naihi Milner plans to celebrate his 100th birthday and believes daily walking will help him get there.

The 88-year-old doesn’t have a car and he enjoys the outdoors – so much so he walks four kilometers to his Kaiti Medical Centre doctor’s appointments.

His recent visit delighted Dr Tom James. “He is still taking life by the horns,” said Tom.“I think that his positive attitude and healthy lifestyle choices - walking and not smoking - have helped keep him in good physical and psychological health.”

Naihi couldn’t agree more. “I’m still A1 healthwise and firmly believe more people should walk - it will help keep them alive longer.”

Born at Ruatoria in 1922 and educated at Whangara Native School, Naihi spent much of his early working life on farms on the East Coast. The jobs, including land preparation using a horse and plough, required immense physicality but this stood him in good stead for his military service during World War 2.

In 1941 Naihi joined the New Zealand Army and went to Waiouru for basic training then transferred to the air force. He was stationed at Ohakea, a Royal New Zealand Air Force base, then transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force and later to the Royal Air Force.

The fact he returned from the war is amazing - he served as a rear-gunner, a position which had a notoriously high mortality rate. He flew in the Wellington Bombers, Stirling Bombers and Flying Fortresses, and still has clear recall of those days.

During one stage of the war he and the number 624 Squadron RAF, were stationed in the North African Desert where they flew night missions to supply arms to France and drop in female agents for the resistance.
After the war ended, Naihi returned to Wellington training as a painter/decorator on a rehabilitation course.

In 1947 he met his future wife, Elizabeth, who was training as a nurse, and the pair later moved back to the East Coast.

The Milners moved into their Elgin home in 1960 where Naihi is still living independently. He enjoys the close proximity to town and has no intention of moving closer to his GP.  He plans to be around till he’s 100!